Substance free and directionless.

July 08, 2010

It's hard to believe it's been almost 15 years since Jerry Garcia died. A friend of mine past along an obituary that I wrote for our high school newspaper, Sub Rosa (circulation 85). In case you missed it or thought that my writing had improved drastically since then, I've added it here

Sub RosaPortsmouth, RIEdition 2, Issue 1October 1995Page 2

Thank you for a Real Good Time

On August 9, 1995 America saw one of its saddest days in recent history. It lost its final icon in Jerome John Garcia. Most were quick to criticize one of the most peaceful institutions they had had ever seen. Others like MTV took the opportunity to dust off those Grateful Dead CDs and videos to capture an audience of thousands of DeadHeads who all seemed lost.

Most could see it coming, with a diabetic coma in 1986 and his collapse in 1991 in conjunction with erractic playing over the last two years. It was obvious that Gracia was once again fighting the dragon of a heroine addiction. But how the end came so fast and hard shocked almost everyone. As the flag in front of San Francisco flew at half mast, much of America mourned the loss of a legend, a genius and great American, the majority looked on wondering what all the fuss was about over this "Reverend Pot-head" (a truly asinine title given by Time Magazine.)

Mainstream America never truly understood the Dead phenomenon, most dismissed it as a cult with its followers being patchouli-scented long-haired nostalgia mongers. They feared the DeadHeads, their peacefulness, their generosity, their kindness. Parents prayed their children would never become DeadHeads out of their fear they would become peace-loving retro-hippies who drop out of school and use hard-core drugs.

Anyone though who has experienced a Grateful Dead show or been there when "the music played the band" realizes that Garcia's death leaves a huge void. There has been an emptiness in my body since that day. Empty in knowing that I could never return to the safest place in the world, that I could never again hear his bittersweet voice which so often relieved so much pain. The void grows bigger each day when I realize that generations ahead will only hear stories about "the band beyond description."

The final verse ever sung at a Grateful Dead concert reads , " Such a long long time to be gone, such a short time to be here." It seems fitting for a man who brought so much joy in his short fifty-three years. A man who spent his life pleasing so many. It seems a shame that his final day was overshadowed by such irrelevant items as the O.J. case and Whitewater hearings, for on that day many Americans lost a good friend that most had never met. All of them just wanted to say, thank you, and assure him that the music will never stop.

June 23, 2010

It's easy to dismiss the infinite number of music blogs out there as an echo chamber of wanna be insiders that only will praise a band until you've heard them. But to do so means missing out on some great original writing and endless insights into music both familiar and the unknown.

One site that gives reason to believe is When You Awake. The owner, Jody Orsborn, is equal part curator of the past -posting epic clips from around the web and putting together a terrific series of mix tapes- and trustworthy gateway to the present - with honest reviews of emerging artists and thorough coverage of the LA music scene.

Over the past few months she's turned me onto my favorite new band, Hacienda, as well as my new favorite dead artist, Jim Ford. (check out both below, and be ready to wonder how you've never heard of Jim Ford before, I have been asking myself that for two months and still haven't come up with a reason)

Here's a quick smattering of some other stuff that has made my day: Linda Rondstat covering Tumbling Dice, a mixtape of Kris Kristofferson covers (BTW: if anyone has ever looked more beautiful than Rita Coolidge in that video, I haven't seen them) and a 2009 interview with the ever bizarre Van Morrison.

This week Jody has a great guest mixtape from the Pete Osberg, curator of Wolfgang's Vault, who until Nick Meriwether got hired, might have had the best job going.

November 17, 2009

An old friend of mine recently dropped her job, kidnapped her sister and set out on the open road. Traveling with little more than a working vehicle, a digital camera and a vague notion of where they'll sleep that night the two are making there way across the US.

Music and long drives are like peas and carrots, so I figured I'd whip up a quick mix tape and email it over to them. Considering I was choosing from the limited selection of music on my work laptop I was shocked at how much I liked the mix. Still it was missing something, and from there I couldn't help but think it needed some liner notes to be fully appreciated.

My afternoon was ruined.

I clearly couldn't e-mail these notes to them. It would have freaked them out.

So I brought to migas. For your listening enjoyment or fodder to mock, have at it: "Trip to Cleveland: Road Daze Fall 2009 BFF" along with some song notes, a couple good pieces of trivia and every overblown rock cliche this side of "sun drenched california psych pop"

Mendocino (1969)- San Antonio native Doug Sahm was originally signed to cash in on the popularity of british invasion bands. The marketing wizards came up with the name The Sir Douglas Quintet to give these Texans an air of aristocracy to match their regal sound. Sahm and the other blokes in the band headed to San Francisco in 1966, where for the only time in the city's history it was a cultural center, creating something on par with its physical beauty. Even though SDQ was a center piece in the creation of the scene, Texas was never far from Sahm's heart and he returned to Texas in 1969. But to show that it was nothing personal, Sahm penned this love letter to his adopted city. Its hard to find a better example of the window between garage rock and psycadelic sounds.

Second Hand News (1970) This under-appreciated album opener provides a refreshing balance to the played to death tracks off of Rumors. Along with the jaunty acoustic guitar work and dynamic harmonies News stands alone atop an all too short list of catchy, not so subtle pop songs that address the mysteries and power of cunnilingus.

40 Dogs Romeo and Juliet (2009) Austin native Bob Schneider has been ready to break it big for the past twenty years. Since his excellent Lonelyland the hardest working man on the third coast has been cultivating a sound that might best be described as what Jack Johnson would sound like if he wasn't so terrible. This latest single is more conservative than his previous efforts but brings it home with a snappy, fun, summer groove that makes you unashamedly crank up the volume, roll down the windows and get dirty to some good adult oriented rock.

40 Day Dream (2009) I was lucky enough to catch Edward Sharpe and the Magnetic Zeros during south by southwest. I left impressed and convinced that I had discovered something new. I soon learned that Columbus had already found them, and I was an old man. Nonetheless, 40 day dream captures the organic, join the band, no shower no problem, hippie energy of the outfit.

Kick Drum Heart (2009)The Avett Brothers have caught some flack from fans for this faux lo-fi, new wavey cut on the otherwise sonically rich I and Love and You. I guess I can see that, but fuck it- the song makes me want to dance.

Borderline (2009) The Flaming Lips give this dance-hall classic a shot of ketamine chased with cough syrup. The hazy verses and droned out climaxes lead to Wayne Coyne's echo hall chorus and almost adds gravitas to what Madonna made sound like bubble gum.

Abandoned Love (1975)Widely bootlegged and revered by Dylan hardcores it took ten years for this song to surface on an official Dylan recording. Recorded in 1975 as his first marriage dissolved, this chestnut is as well written and fresh sounding as any of the material released while Dylan was busy inventing rock and roll a decade earlier.

Use Yr Love- (2007) KT Perry's classy cover of the Outfield 80's classic tale of guy who turns to a young impressionable girl for comfort while his current steady is out of town. Working with epic lines like "don't you know I like my girls a little bit older" Perry adds her own twist to this wholesome family favorite. Surprising fact: Along with their chosen handle, The Outfield expressed their love for america's pasttime in several different tracks. The kicker? They're limey's.

The Man Behind the Drums (2009) Like the Grateful Dead, the ardor of Robert Earl Keen's hardcore fans results in him being dismissed by tastemakers. But along with the glory of binge drinking, white hatted southern frat boys are right about this guy. REK is a serious songwriter who doesn't let that get in the way of having a great time. On this tribute to Levon Helm, Keen falls short of besting the Drive by Truckers's "Danko/Manuel" in the quest for the best song about The Band, but that's stiff competition and Man Behind the Drums serves as a worthy companion piece.

Midnight at the Movies(2009): Justin Townes Earle is able to play old time texas swing and not-nashville country music with an authenticity that so many alt-country bands feign. At least I think so, without a reference point I can only rely on the way his voice on this track melts me. The lyrics drip like honey through a light Texas-waltz and makes a lonesome activity turned casual encounter sound as American an outing as attending a high school football game.

Sugar (2009) : I know very little about Birmingham Alabama's Vulture Whale. Along with their btown brethren, The Dexateens, this band was recommended by the good folks over the Adios Lounge. Now there is a blog worthy of your eyeballs. Though postings have slowed, the recommendations and in depth studies of artists both new and old have been driving my music purchases for over a year now. So when Lounge Chief Proprietor LD raved that Sugar was what "pop music should sound like" I knew I had a safe bet.

Mother and Child Reunion (2007) Good piece of trivia. Paul Simon got the name for this song at a chinese restaurant where the menu featured an egg and chicken dish called the Mother and Child Reunion. I love that story. But its only once and a while that you get shown the light in the strangest of places. The Morning Bendersfound their in a more familiar place- They set up a four track in their bedroom, recorded some of their favorite songs on whatever instruments were available and posted them on-line. This might be the best of "The Bedroom Covers" but its worth downloading here and judging for yourself.

Rhapsody (2001):While Alejandro Escovedo was awarded "Artist of the 90's" by No Depression in 1996, he created saved some of his best work for this 2001 release. I'm not sure if Rhapsody is the best song to post, but it has the rare quality of sounding familiar on the first listen but not derivative. For you fans of political miscellany When informed that his rocker "Castanets" was on the jogging mix of President George Bush, Escavedo decided to stop playing the crowd favorite live.

Kingpin (1996):The opener at the first Wilco concert I saw has been my favorite Tweedy song ever since. Bob Egan's peddle steel makes its way inside of your body, slides under your spirits and wiggles them right on up to the top. .

The Weight- The best cover of the best song out there. Enjoy.

Tex Mex Mile (2009)- God bless the Gourds. The ever brilliant Kevin Russell captures the fun, slightly sloppy, irreverent essence of Americana at its finest. Originally titled the "Tex Mex, Tattoo Pakistani Package Mile" Russell turns the shady legal and illegal commerce between hookers, hippies and other undesirables into a romantic and joyous depiction of a South Austin that had changed long before I arrived. Much like the South Congress streetwalkers described here, the Gourds "ain't good looking but they got that freaky style".

The government tested the diversified business approach by buying some car companies Hopefully this is the first step and they'll be able to wield to the same acumen in the healthcare field.

California crumbled into the sea

My former roommate got married, pregnant and moved to broke California

Famous people died

My best friend brought home a son.

And I am positive that you, my dear readers, have been continuing in your quest. You've undoubtably kept the course and kept fighting the good fight, holding onto the world by the shortest and curliests of hairs. edited per suggestion of one of my dear readers.

Never one to slack, I too have been busy. Though less than prolific on the blog front I've spent the hottest summer on record mastering keyboard shortcuts, researching the seedy underbelly of conveniences store politics and staring at a blank tv screen while dreaming of what could have been.

So that's that. Real posts to return at some point. In the meantime, this poorly constructed filler just a means to test new functionality. Type pad tells me that this mp3 will play inline. Try it out.

Editors note: This doesn't play inline. I'm working on it but just because it opens like it was 1999 doesn't mean it should be ignored. Sahm sings the last and best verse in the third verse slot before singing the first verse last. When the song is over he offers a mawkish intro to the most famous person still alive and mumbles about something.

March 01, 2009

A couple months back MTV put their entire library of videos on line Somehow I couldn't find "Deeper Shade of Soul" online but its about the only thing that works on Boxee right now. I think this is my favorite video of all time.

Without wikipedia I would have never known that they're a Dutch outfit.

The song is pretty great, but how many rap videos take place in empty pools surrounded with skateboarders. Also the DJ is wearing a Charlie Brown t-shirt and the MC, a t-shirt from the U. Can't complain about that. Pretty decent write up on the album as a whole from allmusic.com.